Should We Fear Drought or Water Management Crisis?

Drought, water scarcity, and the water crisis are topics frequently mentioned by officials in the country, and these days they are intertwined with new developments. The head of the Environmental Protection Organization states that this threat will increase 11 times in the next 35 years. Additionally, some officials in the Sistan and Baluchestan region argue that we must quickly harness the abundant wind and solar energy in this area. This week’s program 'One House, One Land' discusses these two topics. Iran is located in a dry and semi-arid belt and has traditionally and chronically been exposed to water scarcity and drought. On one hand, some experts believe that mismanagement of water resources in Iran has caused these problems. Meanwhile, as officials continue to shift the blame for this pervasive crisis onto various sectors, all provinces of the country are becoming familiar with the concept of dryness. The issue has reached a point where the shortage of drinking water is also being raised. Now, the head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization states that according to 'predictions,' in 35 years, drought and reduced rainfall will be 11 times 'the current conditions.' This means the drying up of all wetlands in Iran, the disappearance of rivers, and the reduction of remaining water in lakes that are still alive. For this reason, Masoumeh Ebtekar, the head of the Environmental Protection Organization, speaks of a deep concern for the country's future and emphasizes that we must recognize drought and remove it from the list of crisis and disaster management teams. Is drought so severe and stormy that it will nearly dry up Iran by 2050? Or is Iran ready to utilize renewable energy? The Sistan and Baluchestan region, according to the head of the Iranian Wind Energy Association, has abundant wind and solar energy, and officials say that investment must be made to adequately harness these energies. He referred to this issue as one of the prerequisites for placing Iran in a strategic position in the region, stating that having energy power in the region is one of the tools of this approach. Recent droughts in the Sistan region over the past few years may be one of the reasons why some local officials have been trying to utilize natural factors like wind and sunlight and are talking about new businesses that will emerge with the establishment of these energy sources. However, how far is Iran on the path to using these clean energies? How smooth is this road for Iran's environment, and how quickly can access and achievement be realized?